Grinding Down Some Myths About Garbage Disposals

May 23rd, 2022

sink-drain-with-water-flowing-downIf you have a garbage disposal in Long Grove, IL, you probably don’t give much thought to it except when it fails to work. The kitchen sink disposal is a modern convenience people have gotten used to. And when anything becomes too familiar to people, it’s easy for misunderstandings to start to develop about it until they turn into full-blown myths.

The garbage disposal has several persistent myths swirling around it, and the internet has only increased their presence. We’re going to examine several of these myths today so you know more about your garbage disposal and how to better take care of it. 

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Rust on the Water Heater—What It Means

May 9th, 2022

Run-down HouseIf you have a standard storage tank water heater, you probably know that rust isn’t something you want to see developing on it. Rust is the major enemy of metal that comes into contact with water, and it quickly weakens the metal until it turns useless.

The good news about rust on a water heater is that all water heaters are specially designed to resist rust and other types of corrosion. Proper maintenance for a water heater will make it unlikely for corrosion to appear until late in the unit’s service life. Below we’ll explain more about rust (and corrosion) vs. your water heater and what you may need to do in case it happens.

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Water Stain on the Ceiling? That’s a Serious Plumbing Problem!

April 25th, 2022

stain-on-ceilingWe often talk about the problem of hidden leaks in residential plumbing. It’s easy for these leaks to go unnoticed for weeks or months while they raise water bills and inflict damage on building materials. But today we’re going to look at when a hidden leak becomes an obvious leak. Unfortunately, it’s an obvious leak that people often still overlook or delay at getting fixed. We’re looking at the water stain on the ceiling!

You’ve probably come across this phenomenon at some point; if not in your own home than in another building. A brownish-red discoloration spreading through the drywall or other material of the ceiling. Unsightly, but maybe you only need a bit of paint to touch it up…

No, don’t do this! That stain is the sign of a leak, and it means you need fast service to have it fixed. You can worry about painting over the stain later. 

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How Long Will a Garbage Disposal Last?

April 11th, 2022

white question mark on blue backgroundYou probably use your kitchen sink garbage disposal every day, and that kind of appliance becomes easy to take for granted. Even though a disposal uses a powerful motor and does the action of grinding down food waste, people often make the assumption that a disposal will just keep running without the need to replace it. 

Of course, this isn’t true. In fact, the average life expectancy of a garbage disposal is about 10 years. After that point, although the disposal may continue to run when it turns on, it will have worn down enough that it will start to clog more frequently because it can no longer grind down food as effectively.

We can help you with your garbage disposal in Northbrook, IL when it comes time to repair it or replace it, as well as help you determine which is the best choice.

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What You Need to Know About Water Heater Tank Flushes

March 28th, 2022

tank water heaterThe water heater in your house can account for around 17% of the energy used in your home each year. That makes it the appliance that consumes the most power of any single indoor appliance in the household. Unlike a gas-powered furnace, you rely on your water heater almost every day, so it’s especially important to have it well taken care of. Without regular maintenance, a water heater can quickly become a huge energy drain and will wear down far faster.

The water heater tank flush is one of the key parts of regular maintenance that keeps a water heater running at higher energy efficiency and helps ensure a long service life. We’ll answer some important questions about tank flushes in this post. 

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Do You Know How to Shut Off Water to Your Home During a Plumbing Emergency?

March 14th, 2022

plumbing-valves-and-tubesNobody wants to deal with a huge plumbing emergency, but you have a great source for help when one does happen: you can call our team for 24-hour plumbing in Des Plaines, IL or anywhere else in our service area in the Northshore and Northwest Chicagoland. But before you call us, you may want to shut off the water to your house to stop potential flooding problems. This will help you get a handle on the situation and avoid excess damage and expensive remediation costs later.

But wait … do you know how to shut off your home’s water supply? If the answer is no, then we’re glad you stopped by our blog today. We can help you find out how so you’ll be prepared in case of a big plumbing emergency.

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Why Does My Dishwasher Smell?

February 28th, 2022

girl-pinching-noseThe job of your dishwasher is to make keeping clean easy—specifically, cleaning your dishes. A dishwasher is not only a time-saving device, it can also help reduce water consumption compared to hand-washing dishes. Dishwashers also use hotter water for cleaning than you can get out of your sink faucet, which more effectively kills off bacteria and gives the dishes a deep cleaning that makes them safer to use as well as more pleasant smelling.

So a dishwasher that doesn’t smell nice … that’s going against expectations. Unfortunately, dishwasher odors are a problem that can often strike kitchen plumbing in Winnetka, IL and in some cases may require professional cleaning or even a replacement.

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Where Plumbing Leaks Are Most Likely to Occur in Your Home

February 14th, 2022

bursted copper pipe with water leaking out, 3d illustrationLeaking pipes and fixtures are one of the most persistent of plumbing problems. When people visualize water leaks in their home, they often think about water spraying in large amounts from a burst pipe. This can happen, but the majority of leaks are much more insidious and often happen where you can’t see them easily at first. You have to watch for warning signs like water stains and a rise in your water bills.

To help you better understand where you may need leak repair in your home, we’ve put together a list of the most common spots for household water leaks. Pay attention to these areas so you can catch leaks early.

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Signs You’ve Got a Dying Water Heater

January 17th, 2022

water-heatersWater heaters are designed for durability, but they also do a tremendous amount of work in homes around the year. Compare the water heater in your house to the heating system you use to stay warm. You only run the heater during the cold months of the year, and it gets a long summer vacation. Your water heater, on the other hand, works almost every day. All that wear and tear takes a toll, and at some point you’ll confront a water heater that’s on the way out. At what point do you know it’s time to stop repairing your water heater and get a new one?

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Pinhole Leaks: A Sneaky Plumbing Problem

January 3rd, 2022

bursted copper pipe with water leaking out, 3d illustrationLocating hidden leaks in homes is an important part of our job as professional plumbers. Because so much of the piping in a house is hidden in walls and ceilings, leaks often escape detection for long stretches—sometimes until they start to cause damage to parts of the house. 

And no type of hidden leak is harder to notice at first than pinhole leaks. The name can give you an idea why these are tricky to find: they’re extremely small. But small leaks are still major problems, especially if they escape notice for long enough. 

There’s more to pinhole leaks, and we’ll go over the details below. If you suspect any type of plumbing leak in your house, call us for pipe repair in Winnetka, IL.

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